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HP Launches webOS-Based TouchPad

The HP TouchPad is the first slate built on webOS. It's expected to ship with webOS 3.0.

HP has debuted three new webOS-based mobile devices--a slate called the HP TouchPad and two smart phones, including the smallest webOS-based phone to date.

webOS is the mobile operating system HP acquired when it purchased mobile device manufacturer Palm for about $1.2 billion last July. The move was designed to enable HP to "participate more aggressively in the highly profitable, $100 billion smartphone and connected mobile device markets," as the company put it in its public announcement last summer.

The HP TouchPad represents the first webOS-powered slate. Built around a dual-core, 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon APQ8060 processor, the HP TouchPad sports a multitouch-capable 9.7-inch capacitive touchscreen with an XGA (1,024 x 768) resolution and 18-bit color. Other features include:

1.3 megapixel, front-facing camera;

802.11 b/g/n wireless networking with support for a variety of authentication methods, including WPA/WPA 2, WEP, and 802.1X;

Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;

Integrated stereo speakers and stereo headphone/mic minijack;

USB 2.0 connector for data and charge;

16 GB or 32 GB internal storage; and

GPS (with 3G models).

HP said it expects the 1.6-pound TouchPad to be available this summer.

The company also launched two new webOS-based smart phones, the Pre3 and Veer. The Veer, the smallest webOS phone, is roughly credit card-sized in width and height (2.5" x 3.31"), though slightly thicker than the TouchPad at 0.59 inches.

It features:

A 2.6-inch touchscreen; (320 x 400 with 18-bit color);

A pull-out physical keyboard;

5 megapixel camera;

802.11 b/g/n wireless;

Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;

GPS; and

8 GB internal memory.

The Veer is expected to be available this spring.

Built around a 1.4 GHz Qualcomm MSM 8x55 processor, the Pre3 features a 24-bit, 3.58-inch multitouch display with a WVGA (480 x 800) resolution. It also offers:

David Nagel is editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Technology Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal and STEAM Universe. A 25-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art and business publications.